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On the Campaign Trail 2012

SALU & SAVUSA RALLY FOR EDUCATION: “LET’S CALL A SPADE A SPADE…” OUR SYSTEM HAS FAILED

by Fili Sagapolutele

The gubernatorial team of Dr. Salu Hunkin-Finau and Utuali’i Iuniasolua Savusa began their “Rally for Education” with a campaign wave last Saturday morning in front of the Pizza Hut/KFC malae. The rally & wave were sponsored by the committee to elect “Salu and Savusa” for governor and lieutenant governor.

In her address, Hunkin-Finau declared the local education system has failed to meet its mission, which is to “to help each student meet his or her fullest potential” and urged educators to come together to resolve one of the “grave concerns” that has plagued the local education system for decades.

With the Education Department the largest in government —and a close to $65 million budget to compensate some 2,000 employees including professionals, serving public schools and assisting private schools, Dr. Hunkin-Finau said, “For decades, the national and local test scores of public school students in reading and math continues to stalemate below average” resulting in heart breaking attempts to pass the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

She pointed to the most recent placement test of about 400 high school graduates, in which “93% of those high school graduates were placed in remedial English and remedial Math” at ASCC.

She said American Samoa has tried different approaches to raise academic achievements of students, including carrying out “fun-filled training day and night and even weekends” in hopes that these ideas would impact the teaching and learning executed in the classroom.

“It is time to stand up and call a ‘spade’ a ‘spade’. We can longer pretend to hide the truth —our education system has failed to prepare our students for the digital world,” she said. “We cannot continue to graduate students who are not proficient in English and are losing their Samoan language.”

“We cannot continue to graduate students who will struggle in meeting the demands  of the global world — a world that demands knowledge and skills in Reading, Math, Science and especially technology,” she continued.

“Our students deserve the best education from this department, from the private schools and from this government,” she said, adding that as a candidate for governor, she stands before the audience as a proud educator of the territory with the message, “now is the time to resolve these grave concerns in education.”

She also stated that “our society is only as prosperous as the education level of its citizenry. In other words, the more educated people in a community, the more prosperous and happy the community will be.”

Quoting President Barack Obama, she said “education is critical to creating an economy.”

According to the candidate, a comprehensive internal assessment must be done — “an audit of where we are, in relation to our mission, personnel, budget and where students are at.”

She also said she has followed with “great interest” the current DOE efforts to adopt and hopefully adapt the Common Core Standards, which has been accepted by 46 states.

Hunkin-Finau applauds DOE’s efforts to develop this comprehensive improvement plan, to be executed this school year. (This plan was revealed earlier this month by DOE officials during the DOE general assembly to open the new school year)

However, she said, “I say to the department [and] all of you putting in the effort, let's not rush into something that is worth planning, [and] organizing — so that the result is positive.” She added there are multiple pressing issues that need to be addressed “before we can actually implement to success the Common Core Standards.”

One of the issues to be addressed, as proposed by the “Salu and Savusa” team, are to establish the DOE as a semi autonomous agency, which will then “reduce and hopefully eliminate politics in education.”

She also said that as a semi autonomous agency, governed by a board, things can be processed faster. For example, if a school needs supplies they don’t have to wait weeks or months before getting them.

She also covered a wide range of education issues including salaries for teachers. She said that at the national level, teacher's pay starts at $34,935 but she is saddened by the entry level annual wages for teachers with a Bachelors degree in American Samoa, which is $14,000.

She said this needs to be changed. “We need to keep great teachers in the classroom by compensating them a ‘pay-for-performance rate’… American Samoa needs to put more money into education: teacher pay, equipment and supplies, and facility upgrades.”

 

PART 3: AFOA & LE’I TEAM SAY THEY WILL BRING WITH THEM DIRECTORS AND STAFF BEST QUALIFIED FOR SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE

by Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu

Afoa L Su’esu’e Lutu and Le’i Sonny Thompson believe not only are they the best qualified team, but they will also bring into their administration qualified directors and staff  to provide the American Samoa people the best service available to them from the government. Afoa was responding to a question from the business community during the Chamber of Commerce forum held at the Naumati Conference room, last week Thursday.

Steve Watson asked Afoa, given that he was the Attorney General during AP Lutali’s administration— will Afoa’s administration be similar to Lutali’s administration? “Are we counting on the same approach?” asked Watson. Afoa replied “very much”. He explained that Lutali’s administration worked very well, because the team Lutali had in his administration was a very good team.

Afoa added if he steps into office he will bring together the best team that can utilize their knowledge of what American Samoa needs.

Chamber of Commerce President David Robinson asked Afoa about his Master Plan, which was announced during the power point presentation.

Robinson noted that when the business community hears of plans, they are more keen on the vision and the focus of those plans.

Earlier, Afoa explained his master plan must be comprehensive, to address development needs and implement them in a “responsible manner consistent with managing our natural resources wisely.” He noted they have already started the preliminary review, with the knowledge of what is needed in the territory.

In response to the question, Afoa said they need to have the best team first to use in terms of helping to utilize this master plan. “As I said we have to use what we already have, and that is fisheries— and what we need to utilize is to capitalize it now and we have to work with the Chamber of Commerce, the Federal Government, the representatives in the Fono, and representative in Congress to try to work on how to bring this plan together before finalizing it.

Afoa referred to his presentation noting that the economic developments will be part of the master plan.

Robinson asked who will prepare this five year plan? Afoa in response said all of us — those with the expertise in the various areas, some within the Chamber of Commerce and some outside the Chamber, and the best people in the community will be asked to help with this master plan.

Robinson noted that some people are looking for guidance in making an investment in the territory; however they don’t know where to go. He asked Afoa about his views on having an Economic Development Authority, which has been talked about for some time now.

Robinson stated that this authority would focus only on preparing a five-year plan and looking for new investments and new opportunities.

Afoa agreed and explained that is already in their plan for revenues purposes, noting he was the Chairman of the First America Samoa Economic Development Party.

Leland Slater asked Afoa to elaborate more on what he mentioned about directors of his administration being encouraged to show more transparency and development of their decision making. Afoa said character is very important to him and the directors must have a great work ethic, great capabilities and to top it all — they must be honest.

Another business man asked Afoa, if he will appoint or recruit directors from supporters of other gubernatorial candidates. Afoa said, “Yes, this is not Afoa and Le’i’s territory, it the territory of American Samoa. A campaign is a campaign, but when we come together to choose our leaders we need to work together.”

LOLO & LEMANU BACK TO SCHOOL RALLY: “YOU ARE THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN SAMOA”

by Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu

Gubernatorial candidate Lolo Matalasi Moliga addressed the youth noting they are the future of American Samoa during a back to school rally — “fun in the sun” — held at the Faga’alu Park Saturday morning. He said every government depends on the youth and that is why the they are very important.

“Today is your day, today you will think deeply about your future, because you are the future of American Samoa.”

Lolo said every gubernatorial team that is running for office is making promises to everyone including the youth, and it’s up to the youth to make the right decision for their future.

Questions have risen time after time— which candidate will you believe?” asked Lolo.

“You, as the youth have to look at what each of the candidates has achieved in the previous years. There you will know which candidate that can walk the talk”.

“It’s time you— the youth— make your own decision, your future is in your hands, not your family. “Democracy belief is, once you’re 18 —you are on your own to make your own decision.”

He also noted that numerous youth graduate with degrees each year from college and universities, however there are not enough opportunities given to the youth for employment, and yet this is the responsibility of the government.

“That is the responsibility of the people, churches, and your parents — to build a good government for you, the future of American Samoa”. Lolo said.

He added that he and Lemanu will do everything in their power to have equality in the government for the youth of American Samoa.

The youth were also given the opportunity to ask questions of the gubernatorial candidates.

One woman asked to Lolo if his administration will consider allowing Samoa citizens who reside in the territory to vote, given that they are tax payers and also play a huge role in the government of American Samoa.

Lolo responded that this decision cannot be made by only an administration; it’s a decision that everyone has to agree on,— the people, the government and the leaders.

“However, if Samoa citizens contribute to the government,” he said, then he and Lemanu will not take that lightly and thanked the Samoa citizens residing in the territory for their contribution to the American Samoa Government.”